Joy in the Journey

It seems like a lifetime ago that I stood beside Kurt, dressed in white, and made the wide-eyed vow to be his wife. We had chosen a song for the occasion by Michael Card, whose words expressed a truth we were just beginning to understand: “There is a joy in the journey; there’s a Light we can love on the way. There is a wonder and wildness to life, and freedom for those who obey.”

Almost thirty years later, in a world that has been turned upside down by a global pandemic, racial unrest, and a perpetual political slugfest, I wonder... where is the joy in this journey? As a counselor, I have seen an increasing number of people who are struggling. The anxious are getting more anxious, and the depressed are feeling more depressed. We had hoped in spring that the COVID-19 “craziness” would be winding down by now. But here we are, in the fall of 2020, and the losses are not only NOT over; they are compounding. Financial stresses, the losses of celebrations and important life experiences, health scares, feelings of isolation, and unwanted changes abound. Where is the joy in all of this?

To be real, this question is pointed at me. Where is my joy?

Is there “a wonder and wildness to life” still for me? Life does feel a bit wild right now, but I do not mean the “seize the day/life is good” kind of wild. The wild I feel is that out of control feeling you have when you are strapped into a roller coaster that you have realized is too tall and too fast, and you are creeping toward the top of the hill and there is no way out—THAT kind of wild. This year has been a ride, for sure.

What makes a journey more difficult than enjoyable?

A trip that is being led by someone we don’t trust can test our abilities to follow a leader well. We ask the driver, “Do you know where you are going?”

A trip to destinations we don’t care about can make us resentful of having to spend our time in that way. We ask, “Do we have to go there?”

A trip that is too long or in a cramped space can make us antsy. We ask, “Are we ever going to get there?”

A trip in which we don’t have the things we need can make us worried about the future. We ask, “Will we have enough? Enough gas? Enough food?”

So, what kind of journey are we all on right now? First, we are on a journey led by the only One who is a trustworthy navigator. Never have I found so much comfort in the unchanging character of God. “I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6a) He was good before the pandemic, He is good today, and He will be good tomorrow. His power to act in any way He chooses is also unchanging. His power has never been limited by anything. His power is not limited today, and His power will never be limited.

So, our first rule for the road is this: We can relax and trust the driver. We are in good hands.

So, our good and powerful God, who is sovereign over all, is allowing us to continue to experience this present crisis. He may not love the pain that it is causing, but as C.S. Lewis said, this present pain may be “His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” God is allowing this crisis because He is achieving His purposes in it and through it. Our trip leader has a destination in mind. He hasn’t shared this with all of us who are in the backseat yet, but He knows where He is going. “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’” (Isaiah 46:10) He knows where we are going and how long it will take. Our time-oriented selves struggle, though, with the God for whom “a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day.” (2 Peter 3:8)

So, here is our second rule for the road: God knows where we are going, so stay buckled...we are not there yet.

Paul reminds us that perseverance produces character, character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint. (Romans 5:4-5)

Is fear making it difficult for us to hope? The leader of our journey has promised us that we will have everything we need to get to our destination. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) Is there any resource you need that He hasn’t promised to provide? Assurance? Strength? Wisdom? Peace? They are ours for the asking because He wants to give us what we truly need.

So maybe the problem is us. Maybe we do not have these things because we are not consistently asking for them. Or maybe we are seeking the wrong things—things we think will fill the void right now.

When we feel joyless, it can be too easy to seek distraction and entertainment. We are like hungry kids who dredge the bottom of our plastic backpacks to find stale fruit snacks, instead of trusting that a home-cooked dinner is waiting for us. Rule for the road: Don’t settle for fruit snacks. A feast with our Father will provide what we truly need.

Is joy in this journey possible?

Yes, if we trust in the goodness of God toward us. Yes, if we persevere and refuse to lose hope that God is faithfully working out His purposes. Yes, if we wait on God and feast on the truth, He provides for us daily. There is joy, there is wonder, there is wildness and there is freedom for those who hold on to these truths. Eventually, this trip will come to an end. We will reach the destination. Will we be miserable for the duration, or will we experience the deep joy that God has for us?